Air Maldives
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Air Maldives was the first national airline and
flag carrier A flag carrier is a transport company, such as an airline or shipping company, that, being locally registered in a given sovereign state, enjoys preferential rights or privileges accorded by the government for international operations. Hist ...
of the
Maldives Maldives (, ; dv, ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ, translit=Dhivehi Raajje, ), officially the Republic of Maldives ( dv, ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ, translit=Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa, label=none, ), is an archipelag ...
. It was established on 1 October 1974 during the presidency of
Ibrahim Nasir Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan ( dv, އިބްރާހިމް ނާޞިރު ރަންނަބަނޑޭރި ކިލޭގެފާނު), KCMG, NGIV (''Nishan Ghaazeege 'Izzatheri Veriya'', dv, ނިޝާން ޣާޒީގެ ޢިއްޒަތްތެރި ވެރ ...
. After operating for about 26 years, the airline declared bankruptcy and stopped all operations in 2000.


History


1970s

Air Maldives entered into service with two
Convair 440 The Convair CV-240 is an American airliner that Convair manufactured from 1947 to 1954, initially as a possible replacement for the ubiquitous Douglas DC-3. Featuring a more modern design with cabin pressurization, the 240 series made some inroa ...
aircraft purchased from Caribbean United Airlines, dubbed "Flying Fish I" (8Q-AM101) and "Flying Fish II" (8Q-AM102). The first Air Maldives aircraft landed at Hulhulé Airport on 9 October 1974. The airline operated scheduled daily flights between Male' and
Colombo Colombo ( ; si, කොළඹ, translit=Koḷam̆ba, ; ta, கொழும்பு, translit=Koḻumpu, ) is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo me ...
six times a week, with maintenance work being carried out on the seventh day. A domestic service was also commenced, with a fortnightly flight between Male' and
Gan The word Gan or the initials GAN may refer to: Places *Gan, a component of Hebrew placenames literally meaning "garden" China * Gan River (Jiangxi) * Gan River (Inner Mongolia), * Gan County, in Jiangxi province * Gansu, abbreviated ''Gā ...
. Meanwhile, the airline appointed travel agents in
Colombo Colombo ( ; si, කොළඹ, translit=Koḷam̆ba, ; ta, கொழும்பு, translit=Koḻumpu, ) is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo me ...
to sell tickets and
Air Ceylon Air Ceylon was the former flag carrier airline of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). The airline discontinued flights to Europe in early 1978 and finally ceased all local services on 31 August 1979, when it was replaced by Air Lanka and then rebranded to Sr ...
to undertake airport handling, thus allowing it to minimise its own ground staffing requirements. In 1976, a Singapore-based company called Tri-9 Corporation obtained 49% shareholding in the airline, and took over the management and operation of the airline on 1 June. The airline also stopped its flights to
Gan The word Gan or the initials GAN may refer to: Places *Gan, a component of Hebrew placenames literally meaning "garden" China * Gan River (Jiangxi) * Gan River (Inner Mongolia), * Gan County, in Jiangxi province * Gansu, abbreviated ''Gā ...
following the withdrawal of the
Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
from their airbase on the island. When Tri-9 took over, the two aircraft owned by the airline were in very poor shape and were ferried to
Seletar Seletar is an area located in the north-east of Singapore. Its name can also refer to the Seletar Planning Area (as defined by the Urban Redevelopment Authority), situated in the North-East Region of Singapore. The place name was derived from th ...
, Singapore for overhauling. One of the aircraft (8Q-AM101, Flying Fish I) was found to be beyond economic repair and was stored at
Seletar Seletar is an area located in the north-east of Singapore. Its name can also refer to the Seletar Planning Area (as defined by the Urban Redevelopment Authority), situated in the North-East Region of Singapore. The place name was derived from th ...
, where it remained until it was broken up. It was replaced in October 1976 by another
Convair 440 The Convair CV-240 is an American airliner that Convair manufactured from 1947 to 1954, initially as a possible replacement for the ubiquitous Douglas DC-3. Featuring a more modern design with cabin pressurization, the 240 series made some inroa ...
aircraft (reg. N90907) which was owned by Tri-9. Meanwhile, Flying Fish II (8Q-AM102) underwent a major overhaul and entered service again in November 1976. In May 1977, the airline ceased all operations after the Maldivian Government grounded its aircraft and froze its assets. As for the fate of the two aircraft in operation at the time, N90907 was returned to Singapore while 8Q-AM102 (Flying Fish II) was stored at Hulhulé Airport until it was sold in January 1979.


1980s

During the beginning of the 1980s the airline was confined to the domestic field. It operated regular flights with a
Short Skyvan The Short SC.7 Skyvan (nicknamed the "Flying Shoebox") is a British 19-seat twin-turboprop aircraft manufactured by Short Brothers of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is used mainly for short-haul freight and skydiving. The Short 330 and Short 36 ...
between Malé and
Gan The word Gan or the initials GAN may refer to: Places *Gan, a component of Hebrew placenames literally meaning "garden" China * Gan River (Jiangxi) * Gan River (Inner Mongolia), * Gan County, in Jiangxi province * Gansu, abbreviated ''Gā ...
, in
Addu Atoll Addu Atoll, also known as Seenu Atoll, is the southernmost atoll of the Maldives. Addu Atoll, together with Fuvahmulah, located 40 km north of Addu Atoll, extend the Maldives into the Southern Hemisphere. Addu Atoll is located 540 k ...
. The Skyvan was replaced by two
Dornier 228 The Dornier 228 is a twin-turboprop STOL utility aircraft, designed and first manufactured by Dornier GmbH (later DASA Dornier, Fairchild-Dornier) from 1981 until 1998. Two hundred and forty-five were built in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. In 19 ...
planes in the late 1980s when two further domestic airports were opened in Hanimaadhoo (
Haa Dhaalu Atoll Haa Dhaalu Atoll is the code name based on the letters of the Maldivian alphabet commonly used to refer to the administrative division (known as "Atoll") officially known as South Thiladhunmathi Atoll ( Maldivian: ''Thiladhunmathi Dhekunuburi'') ...
) and Kahdhoo (
Laamu Atoll Laamu may refer to: * Laamu Atoll, an administrative division of the Maldives. * Laamu, the 14th consonant of the Thaana abugaida used in Dhivehi. {{Disambig ...
).


1990s

During its last phase, in the 1990s, Air Maldives, boosted by a new flow of investment, went international again. Air Maldives became a joint venture airline between the Maldivian government, which owned 51 percent, and Naluri Berhad (the majority shareholder of
Malaysia Airlines Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB; ms, Penerbangan Malaysia Berhad), formerly known as Malaysian Airline System (MAS; ), and branded as Malaysia Airlines, is the flag carrier airline of Malaysia and a member of the Oneworld airline alliance. (The ...
), which held the remaining 49 percent. The airline's operations were extended and on 10 November 1994 began operating scheduled flights to
Dubai Dubai (, ; ar, دبي, translit=Dubayy, , ) is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, the most populated of the 7 emirates of the United Arab Emirates.The Government and Politics of ...
,
Colombo Colombo ( ; si, කොළඹ, translit=Koḷam̆ba, ; ta, கொழும்பு, translit=Koḻumpu, ) is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo me ...
,
Trivandrum Thiruvananthapuram (; ), also known by its former name Trivandrum (), is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala. It is the most populous city in Kerala with a population of 957,730 as of 2011. The encompassing urban agglomeration populati ...
and
Kuala Lumpur , anthem = '' Maju dan Sejahtera'' , image_map = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Malaysia#Southeast Asia#Asia , pushpin_map_caption = , coordinates = , su ...
. Flights to
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estima ...
and
London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
(via
Dubai Dubai (, ; ar, دبي, translit=Dubayy, , ) is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, the most populated of the 7 emirates of the United Arab Emirates.The Government and Politics of ...
) were introduced later on.


Bankruptcy

In 2000, Air Maldives was dissolved due to
bankruptcy Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor ...
with losses estimated at between US$69.2 million. The circumstances of the demise of the Maldive national flag carrier were at best obscure and they were never fully publicised. Apparently, officers in high government posts are meant to be protected by this silence. Maldivian people were disappointed and puzzled at the secrecy and the strange and sudden circumstances of the disappearance of their national airline. Explanations were asked in a quite loud and straightforward manner for a country that does not have free press. But all the blame of the bankruptcy was conveniently heaped on Malaysian entrepreneur Tajudin Ramli, former
Malaysia Airlines Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB; ms, Penerbangan Malaysia Berhad), formerly known as Malaysian Airline System (MAS; ), and branded as Malaysia Airlines, is the flag carrier airline of Malaysia and a member of the Oneworld airline alliance. (The ...
chief executive officer, and public outcry in the Maldives soon died down.


Fleet

*2 x
Airbus A300 The Airbus A300 is a wide-body airliner developed and manufactured by Airbus. In September 1967, aircraft manufacturers in the United Kingdom, France, and West Germany signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a large airliner. West G ...
(leased and returned) *3 x
Airbus A310 The Airbus A310 is a wide-body aircraft, designed and manufactured by Airbus Industrie, then a consortium of European aerospace manufacturers. Airbus had identified a demand for an aircraft smaller than the A300, the first twin-jet wide-bod ...
(leased and returned) *1 x de Havilland Canada
Dash 8 The De Havilland Canada DHC-8, commonly known as the Dash 8, is a series of turboprop-powered regional airliners, introduced by de Havilland Canada (DHC) in 1984. DHC was later bought by Boeing in 1988, then by Bombardier in 1992; then by ...
(Still in service with
Maldivian (airline) Maldivian is the airline division of Island Aviation Services based in Malé, in the Maldives. It is the flag carrier Airline of the Maldives. It operates international flights in addition to inter-island services. Its main base is Velana Intern ...
as 8Q-AMD) *2 x
Dornier 228 The Dornier 228 is a twin-turboprop STOL utility aircraft, designed and first manufactured by Dornier GmbH (later DASA Dornier, Fairchild-Dornier) from 1981 until 1998. Two hundred and forty-five were built in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. In 19 ...
(Both scrapped in 2008) *1 x Short SC-7
Skyvan The Short SC.7 Skyvan (nicknamed the "Flying Shoebox") is a British 19-seat twin-turboprop aircraft manufactured by Short Brothers of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is used mainly for short-haul freight and skydiving. The Short 330 and Short 36 ...
(Sold in 1991) *2 x
Convair 440 The Convair CV-240 is an American airliner that Convair manufactured from 1947 to 1954, initially as a possible replacement for the ubiquitous Douglas DC-3. Featuring a more modern design with cabin pressurization, the 240 series made some inroa ...
(1 sold, 1 scrapped)


Livery

Over 26 years of operation, Air Maldives aircraft went through four different liveries.


Destinations

*France - Paris *Germany - Frankfurt *India - Kochi, Trivandrum *Japan - Tokyo *Maldives - Male', Gan, Hanimaadhoo, Kaadedhdhoo, Kadhdhoo *Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur *South Korea - Seoul *Sri Lanka - Colombo *Thailand - Bangkok *United Arab Emirates - Dubai *United Kingdom - London, Manchester


References


External links

{{Airlines of Maldives Defunct airlines of the Maldives Airlines established in 1974 Airlines disestablished in 2000 1974 establishments in the Maldives